No, Utah prairie dogs don't really relate to real estate

I learned something new the other day about Utah prairie dogs. 

Apparently a member of my extended family has encountered issues as they've tried to secure property to build a home on in Cedar City, Utah.  I don't know the full story on what happened, but I gather that the land in question is a kind of  prairie dog town.  I wondered what the big deal was, since I don't know much about prairie dogs and assumed that they were a prosperous animal in Utah.  

I was wrong.  I've done a little studying and found out that Utah prairie dogs are on the threatened list and have been since 1973.  Where have I been?  The issue in Cedar City must have been that conservationists didn't want another prairie dog haven encroached upon.  I'd been taught that that wouldn't be such a bad thing, since my maternal side of the family were ranchers in their day.  

Well now I know.  Prairie dogs do actually contribute to Utah's ecosystem and positively, at that.